…18 November 1781
The 74-gun battleship Warrior is ready for launching in Portsmouth Dockyard. The completed hull is supported by a few last shores, while alongside, men are preparing the ropes that will secure her to the dock.
The traditional flags are flying from short poles where eventually her masts will be placed. These include the distinctive red flag, with the fouled anchor of the Admiralty Board and the Royal Standard.*
*From a sign next to the model ship
The state of our RN, this type of boat will be pressed into service.
Well she is afloat rather than in dry dock…
It’s quite difficult to grasp the comparative scale of the buildings and the boat. I suppose we are more used to thinking that the construction of large boats / ships need to have a structure around them rather than a steep walkway like this up to it.
Well this one is a model and my viewpoint may have produced a certain scale into the picture.
And this is a view of the good old days